Great Yarmouth - 29 Mar 2022

Tuesday 29 March 2022 (1051) – First Eastern Counties Buses Limited 37572 (AU58 ECW) seen outside the Town Hall in Great Yarmouth when working the 0958 Coastal Clipper service 1A from Martham to Lowestoft. It is a Wright Eclipse Gemini bodied Volvo B9TL new in October 2008. A bus with ECW as part of its registration number and one heading to Lowestoft at that! For many years the erstwhile bus body building company Eastern Coachworks (ECW) was based in Lowestoft now but a memory. (First Eastern Counties Buses Limited is now marketing itself as Coastal Reds in the Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft area a name not to be confused with unrelated Lynx Bus in North Norfolk that is registered with Companies House as Coastal Red Limited).

Tuesday 29 March 2022 (1125) – First Eastern Counties Buses Limited 32210 (LT52 WTR) seen leaving Market Gates bus station in Great Yarmouth when working service 8 from Caister to Gorleston. It is a Plaxton President bodied Volvo B7TL new to Centrewest in October 2002 for Transport for London contracted services. The company is now marketing itself as Coastal Reds in the Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft area using a new livery style that has almost replaced the First Bus corporate style. This was one of the few remaining buses wearing the corporate livery that I saw on this visit and it didn’t have Coastal Reds vinyls applied. At the time of my visit there were three Plaxton Presidents in service, the other two being 32206 (LT52 WTM) and 32213 (LT52 WTW). I later read on the East Norfolk Bus Blog website that these two vehicles were withdrawn from service a few days later thus making the subject of my photograph the last of the Plaxton Presidents operating from Great Yarmouth depot. The report also stated that 32210 would soon be withdrawn. (The Coastal Reds name should not be confused with unrelated Lynx Bus in North Norfolk that is registered with Companies House as Coastal Red Limited).

Tuesday 29 March 2022 (1125) – First Eastern Counties Buses Limited 32210 (LT52 WTR) seen in Regent Road, Great Yarmouth just after leaving Market Gates bus station working service 8 from Caister to Gorleston. It is a Plaxton President bodied Volvo B7TL new to Centrewest in October 2002 for Transport for London contracted services. The company is now marketing itself as Coastal Reds in the Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft area using a new livery style that has almost replaced the First Bus corporate style. This was one of the few remaining buses wearing the corporate livery that I saw on this visit and it didn’t have Coastal Reds vinyls applied. At the time of my visit there were three Plaxton Presidents in service, the other two being 32206 (LT52 WTM) and 32213 (LT52 WTW). I later read on the East Norfolk Bus Blog website that these two vehicles were withdrawn from service a few days later thus making the subject of my photograph the last of the Plaxton Presidents operating from Great Yarmouth depot. The report also stated that 32210 would soon be withdrawn. (The Coastal Reds name should not be confused with unrelated Lynx Bus in North Norfolk that is registered with Companies House as Coastal Red Limited).

Tuesday 29 March 2022 (1038) – Our Hire trades as Our Bus YJ62 FZD, an Optare Solo new to Britannia Parking, Bournemouth in September 2012, seen on Caister Road, Great Yarmouth when working the 0955 service 271 from Hemsby Beach to Great Yarmouth and Bradwell. I travelled on this bus to the town centre and at the time I was unaware that a few days later Ambassador Travel took over the operation of this service.

Tuesday 29 March 2022 (1038) – Our Hire trades as Our Bus YJ62 FZD, an Optare Solo new to Britannia Parking, Bournemouth in September 2012, seen on Caister Road, Great Yarmouth when working the 0955 service 271 from Hemsby Beach to Great Yarmouth and Bradwell. I had travelled on this bus from Caister Road to the town centre and at the time I was unaware that a few days later Ambassador Travel took over the operation of this service.

Tuesday 29 March 2022 (1044) – Our Hire trades as Our Bus YJ62 FZD, an Optare Solo new to Britannia Parking, Bournemouth in September 2012, seen on Regent Street, Great Yarmouth when working the 0955 service 271 from Hemsby Beach to Great Yarmouth and Bradwell. I had travelled on this bus from Caister Road to the town centre and at the time I was unaware that a few days later Ambassador Travel took over the operation of this service.

Tuesday 29 March 2022 (1228) – Our Hire trades as Our Bus YJ62 FZD, an Optare Solo new to Britannia Parking, Bournemouth in September 2012, seen on Caister Road, Great Yarmouth when working the 1220 service 271 from Great Yarmouth to Hemsby Beach. A few days later Ambassador Travel took over the operation of this service.

Tuesday 29 March 2022 (1152) – First Eastern Counties Buses Limited 33818 (YX63 LKG) seen at Priory Plain in Great Yarmouth on the approach to Market Gates bus station when working the 1115 Coastlink service X1 from Norwich. It is an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400D new in October 2013. The tower of Great Yarmouth Minster stands on the right.

Tuesday 29 March 2022 (1120) – First Eastern Counties Buses Limited 37154 (YN06 URH), a Wright Eclipse Gemini bodied Volvo B7TL new in May 2006 to First South Yorkshire, seen leaving Market Gates bus station, Great Yarmouth working service 1A to Martham. The company is now marketing itself as Coastal Reds in the Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft area using this new livery style that is replacing the First Bus corporate style. However, the Lowestoft to Martham services 1 and 1A are marketed as Coastal Clipper and usual operated with dedicated branded vehicles in a mainly blue livery. (The Coastal Reds name should not be confused with unrelated Lynx Bus in North Norfolk that is registered with Companies House as Coastal Red Limited).

Tuesday 29 March 2022 (1106) – First Eastern Counties Buses Limited 37150 (YN06 URD), a Wright Eclipse Gemini bodied Volvo B7TL new in May 2006 to First South Yorkshire, seen on Hall Quay, Great Yarmouth. The company is now marketing itself as Coastal Reds in the Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft area using this new livery style that is replacing the First Bus corporate style.

Tuesday 29 March 2022 (1115) – First Eastern Counties Buses Limited is now marketing itself as Coastal Reds in the Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft area, a name not to be confused with unrelated Lynx Bus in North Norfolk that is registered with Companies House as Coastal Red Limited. The First Group corporate livery has almost been phased out now. The older buses have had new Coastal Reds vinyls applied like (YJ51 RDU), an Alexander ALX400 bodied Volvo B7TL new in January 2001 to First York (5815), seen Market Gates bus station in Great Yarmouth working service 8 to Caister.

Tuesday 29 March 2022 (1115) – First Eastern Counties Buses Limited is now marketing itself as Coastal Reds in the Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft area, a name not to be confused with unrelated Lynx Bus in North Norfolk that is registered with Companies House as Coastal Red Limited. The First Group corporate livery has almost been phased out now. The older buses have had new Coastal Reds vinyls applied like (YJ51 RDU), an Alexander ALX400 bodied Volvo B7TL new in January 2001 to First York (5815), seen leaving Market Gates bus station in Great Yarmouth working service 8 to Caister.

Tuesday 29 March 2022 (1109) – First Eastern Counties Buses Limited driver training bus 66840 (MX05 CGE), a Wright Eclipse Urban bodied Volvo B7RLE new to First Manchester new in June 2005, seen at work in Great Yarmouth.

Tuesday 29 March 2022 (1109) – First Eastern Counties Buses Limited driver training bus 66840 (MX05 CGE), a Wright Eclipse Urban bodied Volvo B7RLE new to First Manchester new in June 2005, seen at work in Great Yarmouth.

Tuesday 29 March 2022 (1103) – First Eastern Counties Buses Limited vehicles on Hall Quay in Great Yarmouth. The Town Hall forms the backcloth. Taking the right lane to do some more laps of the town centre is driver training bus 66840 (MX05 CGE), a Wright Eclipse Urban bodied Volvo B7RLE new to First Manchester new in June 2005. Coming up in the left lane to turn and cross the Haven Bridge when heading to Lowestoft on service X1 is 33811 (YX63 LJY). This is an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400D new in September 2013 in the livery for Coastlink services X1 and X11. The cones and related signage at the roadside were in use for a number of overnight closures for bridge maintenance,

Tuesday 29 March 2022 (1103) – First Eastern Counties Buses Limited 33811 (YX63 LJY) seen crossing Haven Bridge, Great Yarmouth when heading to Lowestoft on service X1. It is an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400D new in September 2013 in the livery for the Norwich-Great Yarmouth then Lowestoft (X1) or Belton (X11) Coastlink services. There has been a bridge at this point since the early 1400s which is lowest downstream crossing point of the River Yare before reaching the sea. The current lifting bridge was completed in 1930 which replaced an earlier 1850s bridge.

Tuesday 29 March 2022 (1031) – Sanders Coaches HF54 HFP seen on Caister Road, Great Yarmouth when working the 0900 service 6A from Cromer to North Walsham/0925 from North Walsham to Great Yarmouth. It is a Wright Eclipse Urban bodied Volvo B7RLE new to Wilts & Dorset (102) in November 2004.

Tuesday 29 March 2022 (1032) – Sanders Coaches HF54 HFP seen on Caister Road, Great Yarmouth when working the 0900 service 6A from Cromer to North Walsham/0925 from North Walsham to Great Yarmouth. It is a Wright Eclipse Urban bodied Volvo B7RLE new to Wilts & Dorset (102) in November 2004.